2003-2004 Scholarship Susan Hillyer’s Mount Pleasant, S.C.’s water aerobics class is continuing to reach out and help the children in Akumal. As the momentum has grown, others from the Internet have joined forces to expand this year’s scholarship program. Last year we were able to help two children with monthly stipends. This year we will be helping four children, one in kindergarten, one in primary, another in secondary and a high school student.


Our kindergarten student is Laisha; she is four years old and the youngest of three girls. Her mother does not work. The teacher picked Laisha because she may be having some personal problems along with financial. She is a wonderful student.


Andrea Kopacz and her family are generously sponsoring Verónica Yahaira Dzul Dominguez, who is seven years old and has five brothers and sisters ages six to 17 years old. Her mother is not working and her father works as a waiter in El Dorado Resort. She is very beautiful and nice.


Our secondary school student is Edgar Hermilo Uk Ken. The teacher told us that she chose him because the mother asked her if he could go to school without material, because she did not have money. He goes to school with very poor clothes but is always very clean, with nice hair and with shoes on his feet. Edgar is 12 and he has one brother and one sister. The mother doesn’t work but in her free time she makes crafts and sells them. Edgar’s father is a mason and his work is sporadic. .


Our high school student is Angel Salatiel Euan Cahuich. He is studying Computer Technology and he has an average of 8.2. Angel has five brothers and sisters; his mother and father both work. This is his last year of school.

The scholarship money is presented to the students each month. The students, teachers and guardians sign forms explaining that the money must be used for school supplies. In Akumal the government supplies only the teacher’s salary, the building and the black board. Everything else must be paid from the student’s family. When children enter high school they must take the bus to either Tulum or Puerto Aventuras. This adds another $3.00 a day to their costs.

We will be giving updates on the progress and well-being of these students throughout the school year. If you would like more information on our scholarship program please contact us.

Read about 2002-2003 Scholarship Program.

Scholarship Recipients Report Appreciation by Mauricio Bautista, translated by Ann Griffiths